Suction cleaner nozzle and adjustable brush therefor



l* May 7, 1940,`

E. F. MARTINI-:T

sUcTIoN CLEANERY Nozz'LE AND' ADJUSTABLE BRUSH THEREFOR Filed *March 23, -lss'f 2 sheets-sheet 1 May 7, 1940. E. F. MARTINE-r SUCTION CLEANER NOZZLE AND ADJUSTABLE BRUSH THEREFOR Filed March '25, \19:s7 2 sheets-sheet 2 s@ ww Patented Mty 7, 194e] UNITED STATES SUCTION CLEANER NOZZLE AND ADJUST- ABLE BRUSH THEBEFOB Eugene F. Martinet, Cleveland, Ollio, assignor to y The P. A. Geier Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a

corporation of Ohio Application March 23, l1937, Serial N. 132,556.

s clam.' (omis-15s) ditions of adjustment of the brush withlrespect to the nozzle, it has been usual to provide for three or more positions or conditions of adjustment of the brush with respect to the nozzle, which, if the number of selective positions or conditions of adjustment be three, may be a locked up position, a oating position or condition, and a locked down position, the several positions or conditions of adjustment ofthe brush being attained by manipulation of an operating member bythe user of the suction cleaner.

Insuch a cleaner with three brush positions or conditions of adjustment, having. usual means associating the operating member with the adjustable brush, dimculties have been encountered in easilyand certainly changing the position of the brush from' the locked up position to the oating position or condition, the tendency'being in manipulating the operating member to go past the floatingv position thereof and into the locked down position, which in most cases causes the suction cleaner brush to operate unsatisfactorily on floor coverings, because the locked down position'of the brush is only intended to be used on rugs having long naps or where there is a great deal of dirt or litter to be cleaned.

'I'he objects of the present improvements include the provision of an improved suction cleaner nozzle and an adjustable brush therefor, and in which the brush may have three positions or conditions of adjustment with respect to the nozzle, two of which are attainable byreverse thrusts of an operating member, and the third a thrust movement of the users hand applied to the operating member.

Further objects of the improvements include the provision of an improved suction cleaner nozzle and adjustable brush therefor having a simple and emcient arrangement of partspermitting economical manufacture and convenience in use.`

The foregoing and other objects are attained by the'nozzles, brushes, associations vof nozzles and brushes; parts, combinations, and sub-combinations, which comprise the present invention, andthe nature of which is set forth in the follow-v ing general statement, and preferred embodiments of which are set forth in the following description, andA which are 'particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims forming part hereof.

The nature of the improved adjustable brush a construction hereof,.preferably incorporated in an improved suction cleaner nozzle and adjustable brush construction, may be stated in general terms as including brush mounting means preferably in the form of a cam and latch plate having cam and latch faces formed therein, and the brush mounting meansis preferably secured upon preferably the rear wall of the nozzle ofla suction cleaner. f

A brush is mounted for upwards and downwards slidable movement, and preferably rocking slidable movement on the. mounting means, and

the mounting means and thus with respect to the nozzle. y

The operating member is arranged for selec- PATENT ori-'ica tive normal thrust movements between two positions, and also for selective additionalmovement between one of the first two positions and a third position, the movement of the operating member between the first two positions serving to alternately position the brush with respect vto the nozzle in two differentv positions which may be locked up position and oating position or condition, and the .additional selective movement of f the operating member between one of ,the -rst two positions and the third position serving to selectively position the brush with respect to the nozzle VVin a third position which .may be locked down-position.V

The positionof-the operating membercoire-A y sponding to the floating position or condition of the brush is preferablydetermined by stop means, andthe operating member. is preferably mounted on the brush for slidable ,andforl pivoting and I of as on lines 5, ,.Flgs. -1 and 4, the Vbrush i -beinglin the same oatingpositlonas infFlg. 4;

Fig. ,6, a viewsimilar to Flg., 4` in which thev cam and latch faces of the preferred plate mounting means.

By way of example, embodiments of the improved nozzle and adjustable brush and parts thereof are illustrated as applied to a portable suction cleaner in the accompanying drawings forming pagft hereof, in which portable suction cleaner including embodiments of the improved nozzle and adjustable brush and associated parts of the present improvements; Fig. 2, an enlarged fragmentary view similar to Fig. 1, illustrating the relative positions of the nozzle and preferably rocking brush and associated parts, during a rearwardmovement of the suction cleaner nozzle;

Fig. 3, an enlarged elevation .view looking in the direction of the arrows 3 3, Fig. i of the nomle and brush and associated parts of the cleaner of Fig ,1, the brush and associated parts being mounted on the nozzle, and`- the nozzle vbeing removed from the cleaner of Fig. 1,` and the nomle and brush and associated parts being shown'in their relative positions when the .brush is in oating'position with respect to the nozzle; Fig. 4, a sectional view as on line Fig. 1,

illustrating` the mounting and adjusting: parts for the brush, and the brush', in their relative positions with :respect to each other, when the brush is in floating position with-respect to the nozzle;f-

I Fig. 5, a fragmentary plan sectionalI viewtherebrush-lain its relative position ,with respect to the other partswhenthe brushisin locked up or. retractedposition with-respect tothe nozzle;

Fig. 8, a view similar to Fig. the `brush in its-relative position withrespect to the other partsiwhen the brush-isin locked down A orf-extended position with respect .to the` nozzle;

and. a

Fig. 9, aviewsimilar to Fig... 5, showing certain of the parts when the A'brusl'ils in locked down position.y :1 Y

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the `several figures of the drawings.

A portable suction cleaner ||iis shown in Fig. l, andincludes a fanvcasing inwhich ismounted ,a fan driven-,.by a motor mounted in themotor housing|.2,;the fan casingand4 motor housing-being mountedon forward wheel means, I3.

and: preferably adjustable rear wheel means I4,A

and ausual;pivotinghandle [51s provided for userfbytheoperator in pushing andpulling the cleanerfflnon the wheels i3 and |4 `baci: and forth over a surface being cleaned.

',Awusualdust bag I6 is connected to the exhaust :side kof the fan casing and a nozzle I1 havingwalls forming an air duct therethrough substantially horizontal plane of the entrance mouth 24 of the nozzle I1.

The nozzle l1 as shown is laterally elongated as is usual in portable suction cleaners, and the brush 20 as shown includes an elongated back member 25 from which extend downwardly brisy tie tufts 26. Figure l-isfa fragmentary side elevation of a -5 The elongated brush back 25 may be made of wood, and as shown is engaged in the longi- :tudinal trough opening of an elongated U metallic sheath case 21.

The brush mounting and adjusting means indicated generally by 2| includes an elongated `mounting and cam plate -28 which is secured to and rearwardly spaced from and substantially parallel with the rear wall 23 of the nozzle |1,

,as by4 screw and spacer means 29.

` The brush is preferably rockabiy mounted for upward-and downward adjustable positioning on the plate 28 as by means of screws 30 each having a shank 3| extending through suitable registering apertures in the brush back sheath case 21 of the brush back 25 and each extending*- through a registering upwardly and downwardly extending slot 3 2, one slot 32 being formed in the plate 28 for each shank 3|; and preferably for permitting rocking of the brush 20 a shoulshank 3|l with its enlarged shoulder head 34 at the front side of the plate 28 and with its collar shank extending with clearance through its slot 32 and preferably screwed against wash;- ers 36 interposed between the collar nut 33 ,and

the brush sheathV case 21, there being clearance not only between the collar shank of eachnut 33 and its slot 32, but also between the head 34 Q dered collar nut 33 is screwed on each screw of each nut 33 and the washers 36 and the ad l jacent faces of the plate 28 as best shown `in Figs. 2`and 5, thereby permitting rocking of the brush 20, 4as shown in one direction in Fig. 2, l l whereby the brush isI rendered Vself-cleaning. 4, but showing The vplate 28 at the central portion of its up-' l per edge' is provided with a rearwardly extending tongue 31 upon' which is secured the central portion of a downwardly pressing bowed leaf spring 38 having outer ends 39 having slots 40 formed therein through which extend the shanks of screwsV 4| which are screwed through suitable apertures in the brushy back sheath case 21 and into the brush baci;4 25.

'Ihe resilient leaf spring 38 serves to normally urge the brush 2 0 downwardly towards the nozzle mouth 24 and the surface over which the cleaner is being used, and when in use and when the brush 20 is only under the influence of thev spring 38 it moves upwards and downwards and rocks in the slots` 32 of the plate`28 and is inv the floating position with respect to the nozzle.

The selective thrust placement of the brush 20 in the floating position or the locked up position, and the double movement placement of the brush 20 in the locked down position is attained by the construction and arrangement of parts now to be described.

The mounting and cam plate 28 has formed therein preferably two laterally spaced sloping brush raising cam faces 42`each connecting at its upper end with an up-locking upwardly presented latch face 43. Each cam face 42 and 43 may be as shown a portion of the periphery of an upwardly opening notch 44 formed in the cam plate 28 and each of which also includes a down-locking downwardly presented latch face 45 which connects with the lower end of a sloping brush lowering cam face 46.

A cam'follower and latchhook operating member 41 is operatively` interposed between the brush 28 and the cam plate ,28, and is preferably provided at its outer end with an upwardly extending actuating tongue 48, whereby opposite lateral thrusts applied to the tongue 48, as by the foot or hand of the user, serves to alternately position the brush with respect to the nozzle in the locked up position or oat position, and. whereby after float positioning of the brush, a\

combined twistl and additional thrust on the' tongue 48 serves to position the brush 20 in the locked down position, or in other words the brush 20 is normally alternately selectively positioned only between the locked upand floating position, which are the two positions generally used, and the locked down position is only attained by a special action of the' user.

The operating member 41 as shown is formed from an elongated preferably metallic flat strip, and is arranged to reciprocate, and also to' reciprocate and slightly pivot, adjacent the upper face of the brush case 21.

For this purpose the strip member 41 has formed therein adjacent its inner end a laterally elongated straight slot 48 through which extends the shank of a headed screw 50 which screws through a suitable aperture in the brush sheat case l21 into the brush back 25.

Adjacent the actuating tongue 48 of the strip operating member 41, there is formed therein a slot 5| having laterally spaced, and Stop Vends 52 and 53, and sides extending between the slot ends 52 and 53, and including straight opposite side portions 54 and 55'extending from the slot end 52 and straight opposite side /portions 56 and 51 extendinggfrom the slot end- 53, the slot side portions 52 and 53 being oset fromthe slot side portions 56 and 51 and being connected respectively therewith by angled stop or detent portions 58 and 59, and one of the headed screws 4|. which extends through one of the end slots 48 of the spring 38 has its shank alsoextending through the slot 5|.

The strip operating member 41 is also provided with two laterally spaced cam follower and latch catch tongues 60 extending rearwardly from the rear edge lthereof, as shown, substantially at right angles to the cam plate 28, and each into one of the notches 44 thereof, for selective nonengagement or engagement with the cam faces and latch facesV thereof, as hereinafter set forth.

A brush position designating plate 6| is preferably plOvided at one end of the top of the .brush sheath case 21 and bears thereon at oppo site ends the designations Up andjDown and intermediate the designations Up and Down, the plate 6| bears the designation Float.

The plate 6|v as shown also carries thereon a rearwardly pointing arrow 62 adjacent eachdesignation Up, Float" and Down, so that when the end face 63 is alined with the arrow for each respective designation., there is indicated to the operator that the particular adjustment of the brush with respect to the nozzle has been attained. l

For normally maintaining the strip operating member 41 for endwise movement thereof in that portion of the slot 5| therein bounded by the end 53. the side portions 56 and 51 and the stop or detent portion 58, there is provided an upwardly and downwardly extending leaf spring 84 which is secured upon the rear face of the brush sheath case 21 as by the screw 30 adjacent the operat ing member actuating tongue 48, the upper end.

Fig. 4.

of the spring 84 extending and pressing against the rear side edge) ofthe strip operating members1,..\ Each notch 44 of the cam plate 28V has a lower normally horizontal face Il spaced from the `pref` erably parallel 4down-locking downwardly presented latch face 45 a distance somewhat great er than the thickness of the latch catch tongues of the stripoperating member 41, and the leaf spring 38 tends to normally press the brush 26 downwardly until the-collar shanks ofthe nuts 33 abut against the bottomu end'sof the slots 32 of the cam plate 2 8, but the greater distance between the notch lower faces and the latchv faces 45 than the thickness of the tonguesiBl-.permits rocking of the brush 28 when in locked down position.

In Figs. 4 and 5 the, brush 20, the spring 3l, the operating member 41, the cam plate 28, and the associated parts thereof, are shown inI their respective positions when the brush is ln floating position Awith respect to the nozzle entrance mouth 24, and in which position of adjustment the brush is free to rock and to move upwardly and downwardly, the collar shanks 35 on the brush 2li having clearance in the slots 32 of the cam plate V28 move upwardly and downwardly and/or rock therein, and the latch catch tongues 80 of the operating member 41 are clear ci all faces orfedges of the notches 44 as shown ln The floating position of the brush 28 with respect to the nozzle entrance mouth 24 is the usual position .thereof under most conditions of use of the suction cleaner I0.

85 When it is desired that the brush shall be adjusted to thelocked up position with respect to the nozzle, the operating member 41 is moved longitudinally endwise from its position as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 to its position as shown in Figs 6 and "I, during which the side edges of the latch catch tongue 88 adjacent the brush raislngcani faces 42 are moved against the same and ride upon the same elevating the brush, and then the bottoms of the latch catch tongues 60 ride across the up-locking upwardly presented latch faces 43 of the cam plate 38, against the downwardly urging action of' the spring 38. c

For alternately selecting the locked up position or the iloating position of the brush, the operating member 41 is moved longitudinally endwise, with the straight slot 49 guiding on the shank of its screw 50, and with the portions of the slot 5| bounded by the end 53, the side portions 56 and 51, and the stop or detent portion 58, guiding and limiting the movement of the operating member 441 on the shank of the associated screw 4|.

In other words, opposite lateral thrusts applied by the operator or user on the actuating tongue 48, and which may be applied by the foot of the operator, are all that are required to selectively position the brush 20 in either the oating or y spring 64 urging the operating member," so' that the angled stop or detent portion 58 of the slot 5| abuts against the Shankfqf, the associated screw 4i when the operating member 41 is in the Float position as shown in Fig. 5.

When however it is desired to adjust thev brush 28 tothe locked down position, it is necessary portion 52, and then to move the operating mem-f ber 41 endwise away from the Float andfUp position thereof to the Down position as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, in which position the latch catch tongues 60 of the operating member 41 will be located in the notches 44 of the cam plate 28 beneath the down-locking downwardly presented latch faces 45 so that the brush 20 is maintained in the locked down position with respect to the nozzle, for use for example on rugs having a long nap and a heavy accumulation of dirt.

It is to be noted that in any of the three selectively adjustable positions of the brush 20 with respect to the nozzle 24 in the present improvements, that the brush 20 can always rock about its longitudinal axis, which not only serves to provide for self-cleaning of the brush 29 during use, but also for automatic self-rocking adjustlments thereof, when different adjustments are made in the position .of the nozzle entrance mouth 24 with respect to the surface over which it is being used.

The slot 5l as above described may be otherwise defined for convenience as comprising a slot having offset straight sidedy portions connected with each other by angled stop side portions.

The embodiments of the present improvements illustrated and described herein are by way of example, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to the same or to the particular details thereof, but is commensurate with any and all novel subject matter contained herein which may at any time properly under the United States patent laws be set forth in claims hereof or originating herein, the elements of any of such claims being intended to include their reasonable equivalents.

I claim:

4l. In adjustable brush construction, a brush, mounting means for the brush including a plate, and selective adjusting means operatively associated with the brush and` including cam and latch faces formed on the plate and an operating member having cam follower and latch catch means for cooperation with the cam and latch faces of the plate, the operating member being arranged for selective longitudinal movements on the brush between two positions and also for selective additional lateral and longitudinal movement on the brush between one of the first two positions and a third position, the movement of the operating member between the rst two positions serving alternately by cooperation of the cam follower and catch means and certain cam and latch faces to adjust the brush with respect to the mounting means in two dierent conditions, and the selective additional movement of the operating member` between one of the rst two positions and the third position serving alternately by further cooperation of the cam follower and catch means and other cam and latch faces to adjust the brush with respect to the mounting means between one of -the first two conditions and a third condition.

2. In adjustablebrsh construction, a brush, means mounting the brush for different selective amasss conditions of adjustment including a plate, and selective adjusting means including an operating member cooperatively associated with theplate and mounted on the brush and operative bylongitudinal movement with-respect to the brush for selectively adjusting the brush to different conditions of adjustment with respect to the plate,- the adjusting means also including stop means associated' with the operating-member and normallypreventing longitudlnal movement of the operating member in one direction at an intermediate position of adjustment thereof, the operating member being arranged for selective movements on the brush between a plurality of positions with respect to the stop means, each position of the operating member serving to adjust the brush in' a selected condition of adjustment with respect to the plate different from the condition of adjustment of the brush corresponding to any other position of the operating member.

3. In adjustable brush construction, a brush, mounting means for the brush, and selective adjusting means operatively associated with the brush and including a longitudinally and pivotally movable operating member arranged for selective longitudinal movement with respect to the brush between two positions and also for pivotal movement and then selective additional longitudinal movement with respect to the brush between one of the i'lrsttwo positions and a third position, the longitudinal movement of the operating member between .the first two positions serving alternately to adjust the brush with respect to the mounting means in two different conditions, and the selective additional pivotal and longitudinal movement of the operating member between one of the rst two positions and the third position serving alternately to adjust the brush with respect to the mounting means between one .of the iirst two conditions and a. third condition.

4. In adjustable brush construction, a brush, mounting means for the brush, and selective adjusting means operatively associated with `the brush and -including a longitudinally and pivotally movable operating member arranged for selective longitudinal movement with respect to the brush between two positions and also for pivotal movement and then selective additional longitudinal movement with respect to the brush between one of the first two positions and a third position, the adjusting means also including stop means associated with the operating member and determining the position of the operating member for pivotal movement, the longitudinal movement of the operating member between the first two positions serving alternately to adjust the brush with respect to the mounting means in twol different conditions, and the selective additional pivotal and longitudinal movement of the operating member between one of the first two positions and the third position serving alternately to adjust the brush with respect to the mounting means between one of the first two conditions and a third condition.

5. In adjustable brush construction, a brush, means mounting the brush for different selective conditions of adjustment including a plate disposed longitudinally of the brush, and selective adjusting means including an operating member movable longitudinally and pivotally on the brush and cooperatively interposed between the brush and the plate and operative by longitudinal movement on the brush or pivotal and longitudinal movement with respect to the brush to selectively adjust the brush to different conditions of adjustment with respect to the plate. i

6. In adjustable brush construction, a brush, means mounting the brush for different selective conditions of adjustment including a plate disposed longitudinally of the brush,A and selective adjusting means including an operating member movable longitudinally and pivotally on the brush and cooperatively interposed between the brush and the plate and operative by longitudinal movement on the brush or pivotal and longitudinal movement with respect to the brush to selectively adjust the brush to different conditions' of adjustment with respect to the plate, and spring means controlling pivotal movement of the operating member.

7. In suction cleaner nozzle and adjustable brush construction, a nozzle having an intake mouth, a brush, means mounting the brush, on the nozzle, and selective adjusting means operatively associated with the brush and including a longitudinally and pivotally movable operating member arranged for selective longitudinal moveand the third position serving alternately to adjust the brush with respect to the nozzle between one of the rst two conditions and a third condition, and spring means controlling pivotal movement of the operating member.

8. In adjustable brush construction, a brush,

.of the rst two positions and a third position, themovement of the operating member between thel rst two positions serving alternately by cooperation of the cam follower and catch means and certain cam and latch faces to adjust the brush with respect to the mounting means in two diiferent conditions-and the selective movement of f 

